Electroactive polymer transducers biased for increased output
First Claim
1. A transducer assembly comprising an electroactive polymer and at least one biasing element, the improvement consisting of at least one biasing element set to provide a negative spring rate within the transducer assembly.
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Abstract
Electroactive polymer transducers are disclosed. They are biased in a manner that provides for increased force and/or stroke output, thereby offering improved work potential and power output capacity. The biasing may offer additional or alternate functional advantage in terms of matching transducer performance with a given application such as a normally-closed valve. The improved biasing (including increased output biasing) may utilize negative spring rate biasing and/or a combination of negative or zero-rate biasing with positive rate biasing to achieve the desired ends.
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Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A transducer assembly comprising an electroactive polymer and at least one biasing element, the improvement consisting of at least one biasing element set to provide a negative spring rate within the transducer assembly.
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5. A transducer assembly comprising electroactive polymer and a positive, rate biasing element, the improvement consisting of at least one biasing element set to provide a negative or substantially zero spring rate.
- 6. A diaphragm transducer assembly comprising electroactive polymer and at least one biasing element, the improvement consisting the at least one biasing element having a bistable configuration to allow the transducer to actuate in opposite directions without further biasing.
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9. A negative spring rate assembly comprising:
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a compressible member configured to be in a most compressed condition when the assembly is in a neutral position and in a least compressed condition when the assembly is in an extended position; and an output member associated with the compressible member, wherein the output member is leveraged most when the assembly is in the neutral position and is leveraged least when the assembly is in the extended position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20)
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15. A transducer assembly comprising:
a molded negative race spring diaphragm and electroactive polymer, each coupled to a frame, wherein the electroactive polymer is configured in a frustum shape and wherein the negative rate spring diaphragm is operatively coupled to the electroactive polymer to provide biasing. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
Specification